The Postmistress of Paris by Meg Waite Clayton #Review

 

 I am delighted to feature The Postmistess of Paris by Meg Waite Clayton. This evocative historical novel will be published by Harper Collins on 20th January and you can pre-order a copy here. You can download a digital copy here.

 

The New York Times bestselling author of The Last Train to London revisits the dark early days of the German occupation in France in this haunting novel—a love story and a tale of high-stakes danger and incomparable courage—about a young American heiress who helps artists hunted by the Nazis escape from war-torn Europe.

Wealthy, beautiful Naneé was born with a spirit of adventure that transcends her Midwestern roots. For her, learning to fly is freedom. When German tanks roll across the border and into Paris, this woman with an adorable dog and a generous heart joins the resistance. Known as the Postmistress because she delivers information to those in hiding, Naneé uses her charms and skill to house the hunted and deliver them to safety.

 Inspired by the real life Chicago heiress Mary Jayne Gold, who worked with American journalist Varian Fry to smuggle artists and intellectuals out of France, Meg Waite Clayton has fashioned a sweeping tale of romance and danger, set in a world aflame with personal and political passion. The Postmistress of Paris is the haunting story of an indomitable woman whose strength, bravery, and love is a beacon of hope in a time of terror.

 My Thoughts

Set in Vichy France in the Second World War, this is an evocative and touching novel which captures the tension of the time and shows you some of the victims of the events. Using a true character as its inspiration, Americah heiress Mary Jayne Gold, it makes for such an interesting and layered read. Naneé is a wonderful invention, full of courage and also very human reactions. 

    The cruelty of war is shown in stark contrast to the civilan lives of the artists and authors who are feared by the invading force and therefore marked out as dangerous. The brutality of the prejudice against different sectors of society seems to crush human feelings on sight. However, you realise that there is a resilience in its victims which quietly survives. There is quite a contrast between the horror of the war and the childish innocence of Eduoard's daughter. Despite the political events of the period, you can still sense a positivity and hope for a better future, even though the events of the story keep you on the edge of your seat as lives unravel and dark times unfold.

In short: Well researched historical fiction which captures the spirit of the time.

 

About the Author

Meg Waite Clayton is a New York Times bestselling author of six novels, most recently Beautiful Exiles. Her previous novels include the Langum Prize--honored The Race for Paris; The Language of Light, a finalist for the Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction (now the PEN/Bellwether); and The Wednesday Sisters, one of Entertainment Weekly’s 25 Essential Best Friend Novels of all time. She has also written for the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Forbes, and public radio, often on the subject of the particular challenges women face.

You can follow Meg here: Twitter  |  Website   |  Instagram

Book links: Amazon UK Print copy |  Amazon UK digital copy . 

Thanks to Meg Waite Clayton, Harper Collins and Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for a copy of the book and a place on the tour. 

 

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